Method of Providing a Garment

ABSTRACT

A method of providing a garment ( 10 ) includes the steps of packing the garment ( 10 ) in a packaging container ( 12 ), and at least partly evacuating the container ( 12 ), and sealing the container ( 12 ), the method including providing within the packaging container ( 12 ), an extra item ( 20 ) being one of a hygienic wipe, a sanitary pad, and a condom, the extra item being provided in its own packaging material.

This invention relates to a method of providing a garment and more particularly but not exclusively to a method of providing an undergarment for wearing around the lower abdomen, such as briefs, boxer shorts and the like.

It is a requirement in some circumstances and situations, for a person to have available a replacement such undergarment, in the event that the person's undergarment becomes soiled. This may be due for example to prolonged wear, for example on a long haul aircraft journey, or may be due to a person having a digestive disorder, or being hygienically careless, or in the case of a female, due to the unexpected onset on menstruation.

It is known for briefs particularly, to be available in small packages, but the packages are generally not small or convenient enough to be an acceptable way of having a spare undergarment to hand. In any event, the requirement for a replacement undergarment is likely to arise unexpectedly, and the options presently available do not provide a solution to the problem.

Moreover, merely changing the undergarment may not be a solution where some cleansing is required.

According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a method of providing a garment including the steps of packing the garment in a packaging container, and at least partly evacuating the container, and sealing the container, and characterised in that the method includes providing within the packaging container, an extra item being one of a hygienic wipe, a sanitary pad, and a condom, the extra item being provided in its own packaging material.

Desirably the extra item is provided within folds of the garment.

The invention has- particularly but not exclusively been developed for a garment which is an undergarment for wearing around the lower abdomen, such as briefs, thongs, boxer shorts and the like.

It has been found that by providing the garment packaged in a sealed, at least partially evacuated packaging container, a small, conveniently carried spare garment can be provided, and the extra item, where a wipe, can most conveniently be provided for use in inconvenient situations. The container may conveniently be carried in a handbag, or in a pocket, or even in a wallet. Hence the packaged undergarment may have maximum length and width dimensions of less than 10 cm, and a maximum depth dimension of less than 4 cm. More preferably, the packaged undergarment may have a maximum length dimension of less than 9 cm, a maximum width dimension of less than 6 cm and a maximum depth dimension of less than 3 cm. Thus the packaged garment may be widthways and lengthways, generally of credit card size or not much larger.

It will be appreciated that a packaged garment with such dimensions, is ideal for vending machine sale. Thus whereas the packaged garment may be displayed conventionally e.g. on a shelf, the method of the invention may include stacking a plurality of packaged containers each packaged by the method of the invention, in a vending machine for retail sale.

It is known to provide disposable undergarments, but generally these are unacceptable for wearing for long periods. Accordingly, preferably the garment is made of a washable material, and desirably contains a significant proportion of cotton. For example, the undergarment may be made of a cotton/Lycra mix, but where an undergarment, with a cotton gusset for comfort.

It has been found surprisingly, that such a re-usable garment can be packaged to a very small size, but partially evacuating the packaging container, and the extra item where provided in the folds of the garment, does not significantly add to the bulk of the package.

Because the packaging container is at least partially evacuated, the extra item may be accommodated without increasing the size of the packaged undergarment.

Desirably, the packaging container is only partially evacuated because if the container is evacuated to too great a degree, this can affect the condition of the garment, making it difficult to unfold for wear.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a packaging container including a garment and an extra item being one of a hygienic wipe, a sanitary pad, and a condom, the container being sealed and being at least partly evacuated.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative perspective view of an undergarment packaged by the method of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the undergarment.

Referring to the drawing there is shown an undergarment 10 which is contained within a packaging container 12. The undergarment 10 in this case is a pair of ladies' briefs which have front and back panels 14, 15 each made of a washable woven material such as a cotton/Lycra mix, and a gusset 16 which is made in this example substantially of cotton. The briefs 10 have the usual elasticated waist band 17, and elasticated leg openings 18.

The packaging container 12 is of generally rectangular box form, but made in a light flexible plastic material such as polyethylene. The packaging container 12 has a length dimension L of about 8.5 cm, a width dimension W of about 5.5 cm and a thickness dimension T of about 2 cm, and is lengthways and widthways about credit card size, whilst being thin enough to be carryable in a wallet for example.

To package the briefs 10, the briefs 10 are placed in the packaging container 12 which deforms to allow the briefs 10 thus to be inserted. The container 12 is then partially evacuated, for example to remove at least 50% of the air in the container 12, to reduce its dimensions to the size shown and described, and the packaging container 12 is then sealed. Desirably the container 12 is not evacuated to an extent greater than 60%, as then can cause permanent creasing of the undergarment 10 making this difficult to unravel and uncomfortable to wear.

The packaged container 12 with undergarment 10 may be displayed conventionally on a shelf for retail sale, or may be retailed via a vending machine. Thus a plurality of packaged containers may be stacked in a vending machine.

In accordance with-the invention, an extra item is contained within the partially evacuated container 12. In the example. shown, in dotted lines there is indicated a hygienic wipe 20 provided in its own packaging material or sachet within the folds of the undergarment 10. The wipe 20 is of the “wet” kind i.e. including material soaked in an antiseptic soapy substance but its packaging retains the moisture and prevents it from soiling the undergarment 10. In another example, the extra item may be a sanitary pad, or a condom, in each use, provided in its own packaging-material or sachet.

The extra item 20 is accommodated within the packaging container 12 with the undergarment 10, e.g. wrapped in the undergarment 10. Due to this and to the partial evacuation of the packaging container 12 the extra item 20 does not add to the bulk of the package.

Although the invention has particularly been described in relation to packaging Ladies' briefs, the invention may be used for providing other undergarments and garments generally.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. 

1. A method of providing a garment including the steps of packing the garment in a packaging container, and at least partly evacuating the container, and sealing the container, and characterised in that the method includes providing within the packaging container, an extra item being one of a hygienic wipe, a sanitary pad, and a condom, the extra item being provided in its own packaging material.
 2. A method according to claim 1 which includes providing the extra item within folds of the garment.
 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the garment is an undergarment for wearing around the lower abdomen.
 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the packaged garment has maximum length and width dimensions of less than 10 cm, and a maximum depth dimension of less than 4 cm and preferably has a maximum length dimension of less than 9 cm, a maximum width dimension of less than 6 cm and a maximum depth dimension of less than 3 cm.
 5. A method according to claim 1 which includes stacking a plurality of packaged containers packaged by the method of any one of the preceding claims, in a vending machine for retail sale.
 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the garment is made of a washable material.
 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the garment contains a significant proportion of cotton.
 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the garment is made of a cotton/Lycra mix.
 9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the garment includes a cotton gusset.
 10. A packaging container including a garment and an extra item being one of a hygienic wipe, a sanitary pad, and a condom, the container being sealed and being at least partly evacuated.
 11. A method according to claim 3 wherein the packaged garment has maximum length and width dimensions of less than 10 cm, and a maximum depth dimension of less than 4 cm and preferably has a maximum length dimension of less than 9 cm, a maximum width dimension of less than 6 cm and a maximum depth dimension of less than 3 cm.
 12. A method according to claim 4 which includes stacking a plurality of packaged containers packaged by the method of any one of the preceding claims, in a vending machine for retail sale.
 13. A method according to claim 3 wherein the garment is made of a washable material.
 14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the garment contains a significant proportion of cotton.
 15. A method according to claim 1 wherein the garment is made of a cotton/Lycra mix.
 16. A method according to claim 7 wherein the garment includes a cotton gusset.
 17. A method according to claim 1 wherein the garment includes a cotton gusset. 